Sands of Aura

Sands of Aura feels like a game with a lot of ambition that doesn't always land cleanly, but still manages to deliver a rewarding experience. The combat can feel a bit loose, the controls take time to adjust to, and parts of the story don't fully pay off, but the core loop of exploring, upgrading, and taking on increasingly difficult encounters works. The world is interesting, the systems offer real flexibility, and the bosses are consistently engaging. It leans into an older style of design that trusts you to figure things out, and while that won't be for everyone, it gives the game its own identity. In the end, it's a solid and sometimes rough experience that becomes more enjoyable the more time you invest in it.

Sands of Aura is a great game, with many strengths and few weaknesses. It’s a game crafted with care and attention to detail, leaving no gaps or weak points. Its setting, soundtrack, level design, and combat are all top-notch.

The intention and concept are sound, but as far as execution is concerned (at least on the Switch), it is seriously substandard. The textures, the chaotic UI, and the unengaging storytelling—it’s just too much of a mess. By the time you finally get to explore by boat, you’ve practically lost all your motivation due to all these thorny shortcomings. So, for a price tag of 24.99 euros (or 19.99 with a discount)? I would wait until a successful update arrives, to see if this game is worth it. Because right now, that is certainly not the case.

Overly dark, and looking downright awful in many regards, it offers up some challenges, but not without frustrations

Sands of Aura is not a disaster, and it is not a hidden masterpiece either. I came away respecting the ambition more than the actual play experience. There is a compelling world, a decent narrative frame, and moments of real atmosphere. But the game keeps undercutting itself with inconsistent defensive timing, uneven encounter behavior, and a progression loop that does not always make you feel stronger when it should. For me, that leaves Sands of Aura as a just okay action RPG, interesting enough to remember, not polished enough to recommend broadly.

Sands of Aura is an artistically surprising souls-like which however fails to totally convince due to some design choices or technical limitations that degrade the general experience.

Sands of Aura is a mesmerizing journey into a twilight world buried beneath an endless sea of sand. The game’s engaging narrative, challenging combat, and freedom of exploration make it a standout title in the action-adventure genre.